Fastening device



Oct. 1964 R. A. BEGHETTO, JR 3,151,370

FASTENING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. Pay/14mm 4. 5567/5770,we;

United States Patent 3,151,370 FASTENING DEVICE Raymond A. Beghetto,Jr., 1008 W. 22nd St., Cheyenne, Wyo. Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. No.206,395 3 Claims. (CI. 24-16) This invention relates to the generalfield of securing means and, more specifically, the instant inventionpertains to fastening devices.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a fasteningdevice for securing, in juxtaposition, the free edges of a pair of lidsections forming the closure member of a box, container, receptacle, andthe like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastening device forthe lid sections of a closure member for a container, receptacle, box,and the like, wherein the fastener device may be quickly and easilyinstalled, the installation being accomplished without the use of tools.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fasteningdevice of the type referred to supra, wherein the device is soconstructed as to be adaptable for re-use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fastening deviceconstructed of a pair of identical units wherein the component elementsof one unit are interchangeable with corresponding elements of theother'unit.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of a fastening device or means which is non-complex inconstruction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and which isdurable in use.

Other and further advantages of the instant invention will become moreevident from a consideration of the following specification when read inconjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fastening means constructed inaccordance with this invention and showing the same in its operativeposition securing together two lid sections of a closure member for acontainer, receptacle, box, or the like;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the fastening device shown in FIGURE 1,FIGURE 2 showing an intermediate stage of the application of the deviceto the closure member;

FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being takensubstantially on the horizontal plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking inthe direction of the ar-' rows;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the locking tongue employed in thefastening device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the locking device shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a second embodiment of this "invention wherein theuse of the locking tongue of FIG- URE 4 is eliminated;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective 'view of one of the locking deviceunits illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 8 being takensubstantially on the horizontal plane of line 88 of FIGURE 6, looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of one of the prong members in blankform.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, and to that embodimentof this invention as is' illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, inclusive,reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a fastening deviceconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. -As hasbeen heretofore indicated, the fastener 10 is adapted to hold injuxtaposition a pair of lid sections 1'4, 16 of 'a closure memberdesignated, in general, for a box, recep- "Ice tacle, container, and thelike (not shown) of conventional construction.

The fastening device 10 is formed of a pair of identically-constructedunits applied one to each of the lid sections 14, 16 and securedtogether by a third means.

Each of the fastening units is preferably formed of a soft metallicmaterial, but other materials may be employed. Each unit of thefastening device 10 is seen to comprise a prong element 18 (see FIGURE7) having a discoidal central body portion 20 provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed circumferentially spaced, upwardly andoutwardly-flaring flanges 22, 24. As is clearly seen in FIGURE 7, theelement 18, between each pair of adjacent ends of the flanges 22, 24 isintegral with downwardly-turned, substantially rectangular flanges 26,28, respectively, diametrically-opposed with respect to one another. Theother ends of the flanges 26, 28 are reduced in width and are revertedat 30, 32, and again at 34, 36 to provide a pair of prongs 38, 40 havingarcuately-shaped terminal ends 42, 44, respectively. The prongs 38, 40are reverted in order to provide reinforcement for the central bodyportion 20.

The prong member 18 is formed, reference now being made to FIGURE 9 ofthe drawing, from a blank of metallic or other suitable material whichis crimped or folded on arcuate lines 46, 48 to form the flanges 22, 24and on the parallel lines 50, 52, 54 and 56, 58, 60 to designate thelines of reversion 30, 34 and 32, 36, respectively.

The locking tongue member is indicated at 62 in FIG- URE 4 and is alsoformed of a relatively thin flat soft metal which may be easily bent.The member 62' is essentially rectangular in configuration and comprisesthree separate sections or portions including an arcuately-shaped endportion 64 from the inner side of which is integrally connected acentrally-located shank 66 that tapers in width toward an elongatedsubstantially rectangular end portion 68 of uniform dimensions, and withwhich it isinte grally connected. The outer end of the portion 68"isrounded or blunted as at 70. The junction of the inner end of the shankportion 66 with the end portion 68 is demarked by a pair of identicalgrooves 72, 74 inclined inwardly at an acute angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the tongue member 62 and disposed on opposite sidesof the end portion 68. The arcuate end portion 64, adjacent itsconjunction with the adjacent end of the shank portion 66, is arcuatelyand inwardly notched, as at 75, 78.

Reference numeral 80 generally connotes a clamp plate comprising a flatcylindrical main body portion 82 having a pair oftransversely-extending, diametrically-opposed and parallel slots 84, 86formed therein. A flange 88 flares lateral from the circumferentialmarginal edge of the main body portion 82 at one side thereof, theflange 88 having a substantially hollow frusto-conical configuration.

' ing slots 100, 102 disposed in'spaced parallel relation relative toeach other and adjacent their respective free edges,

only one pair being shown in FIGURE 7. Thespacing inwardly of each pairof slots 102, 104 from the free edges of each closure section ispreferably the same, but may i I be varied, if so desired.

The spacing between each pair of slots 84, 86, and 92, 94, and 1%, 182'is the same, and under some circumstances to be described infra, theseveral pairs of slots are designed to be aligned with each other toreceive the prongs 38, 40 therethr-ough. The component elements of thefastening device 10 having been illustrated and described in detail, itis believed that the application of the invention is self-evident.However, a brief description of its utility and versatility is set forthbelow.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to S, inclusive, and also 'to FIGURE 7, andassuming that the box lid sections 14,

'16 are closed and'that each box lid section 14, 16 is provided with thepairs of slots 190, 102 aligned with each other, the prongs 38, 49 ofone of the prong members 18 is inserted through each pair of slots 1'06,102. The insertion is made from the upper sides of the lid sections 14,16. The lid sections 14, 16 may now be pivoted so that their respectivefree edges move away. from one another to permit the prongs 38, 40 to beinserted first through the slots 92, 94 of the disc member'9ti andsubsequently through the slots 84, 86 of the clamp plate 80. While notnecessary to the successful operation of the fastening device, it ispreferable that the clamp plate 8t be threaded on the prongs 38, 40 insuch a manner so as to elfect line contactof the flange 88 with theunderside of the lid sections 14, 16. The thong '98 will, under thesecircumstances, project beyond the flange 88, but this is of noconsequence. The prongs 38, 40 are now bent laterally away from oneanother (see FIGURE in such a manner as to permit a small amount ofmovement of the central body portion 20 toward and-awayfrom the exteriorsides of the lid sections 14, 16.

The tongue member 62 is now inserted beneath each of the two centralbody portion-s 20 after the lid sections 14, 16 are moved intosubstantially coplanar or closed positions between each pair of prongs38, 40. From FIGURE 1 of the drawing it will :be seen that the distancebetween each of the prongs 38, 40 is sufiicient to accommodate the widthof the end portion 63 of the tongue member 62. It will also be notedthat with the tongue member-62 fully inserted, the arcuate notches 75,78 are preferably proximate the adjacent ends of the reverted portions30, 34 and 32, 36 of the prongs 38, 40 of one of the prong members 13.Similarly, the grooves72, 74 have passed through the other of the prongmembers hetwee'n'its respective prongs 38, 4t and are disposed proximatethe other of the reverted portions 30, 34 and 32, 36 of the second ofthe prong members. Thenotches 75, 78 are rounded and are norm-allypositioned proximate a pair of edges of the prongs 38, 40 to receive thereverted portions 30, 34 and 32, 36, whereby the ,tongue'member 62 maybe pivoted toa slight degree ther'eabont and thereby to cause thereverted portions 30, 34 and 32, 35 of the other of the prong members toengage within the grooves 72, 74 to optionally engage with either one ofthe grooves 72, 74 to temporarily lock the lid sections 14, 16 intheir'closed positions with the free edgesthereof disposed in confrontingpositions.

When it is desired to achieve a more permanent type of connection, thetongue member 62 may now be disen gaged from the prongs 38 or 46 of theprong element 18 extending through the lid section 16 and the same isbent over that prong member 18 lying immediately adjacent the grooves72, 74, and the free end of the tongue member 68 is then threadedbetween the prongs 38, 40 below the discoidal central body portion 20 ofthe fastening device connected with the lid section 14.

a As has been stated above, one or more of the fastening devices 10 maybe used to span the slit or opening extending between the free edges ofthe lid sections 14, 16, as needed. a

'In the above construction, the thong may be brought upwardly betweenadjacent sections of the lidsections 14, 16 and wrapped alternatelyaround the prongs 38, 40 of 4 each of the prong elements 18 to act as asafety securing means or as secondary securing means in such cases asmay require repeated opening and closing of the lid sections 14, 16.Obviously, repeated bending of the tongue member 68 will, eventually,result in metal fatigue on the fold line and subsequent fracture.

FIGURES 7 to 9, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of thisinvention. It will be immediately determined that all of the elementsemployed in the first-described embodiment are present in the second.However, the assembly and function of the second embodiment of theinvention departs from the first in the following manner.

Referring'rnore specifically to FIGURE 7 of the drawing, it will benoted that the lid section 14 has superimposed thereagainst the discmember 99 with the slots 92, 94 being aligned with the slots 100, 102,and with the thong 98 extendingradia'lly from the upper side of the discmember 90. Superimposed on the disc member 90 is the clamp plate 80 withthe slots 84, 86 being aligned with the slots 92, 160 and'94, 102,respectively, the clamp plate '80 being adapted to bear against thegrommet 96 and the thong 93. The prongs 38, 40 of the prong element 18are now passed through the aligned slots and bent away from each otheragainst the undersurface of the lid section 14, in the manner describedabove. The thong 5 8 may now be extended from the lid section 14 to thelid section 16 and wrapped about a corresponding fastening device 10carried on the lid section 16. The wrapping is made alternately betweenthe two prong elements 18.

In this second embodiment of the invention, one or both of the thongmembers 98 may be employed in the wrapping operation. It will also beunderstood that with the clamping member 80 reversed from the positionshown in the original embodiment of the invention, the flange 88 servesas a cam or guide for causing the thong of the opposed prong member 18to be easily wound about the prong members 18.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention, itwill be understood that thesame are offered merely by way of example,and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

'What is claimed is:'

.1. Securing means for a receptacle having a closure member formed of apair of lid sections having free edges pivotal into juxtaposition whenmoved to their respective closed positions, fasteningmeans for eachlidsection comprising a pronged member having a central body portion fromone side of which laterally projects a pair of prongs, said prongs ofeach of said fastening closed positions, fastening means for each lidsection comprising a substantially discoidal main body portion having apair of prongs projecting laterally from opposed sides thereof, saidprongs being insertable through their associated lid sections andeach'p'air being bent in divergent directions away from one another, anelongated substantially rectangular tongue member extending under bothof said main body portions and bent over one main body portion forreinsertio'n below the first main body portion vthrough which itoriginally passed.

fastening means for each lid section being identical and V 1' includinga substantially discoidal main body portion having a pair ofoppositely-disposed flanges projecting laterally and outwardly from aside thereof, a pair of diametrically-opposed prongs projectinglaterally from the other side of said main body portion between adjacentpairs of ends of said flanges, said pairs of prongs being extendedthrough, respectively, one of said lid sections and bent away from eachother in divergent directions to engage against the underside of theirassociated lid sections, a cylindrical plate for each of said fasteningmeans, each of said plates having an outwardly-divergent circumferentialflange, each of said plate flanges engaging against the underside of theadjacent lid section to clamp said fastening means to the exterior sidethereof, a disc member interposed between said plate and the adjacentside of said lid section, a flexible thong projecting radially from saiddisc member, and an elongated substantially rectangular tongue memberextending between each pair of prongs below their respective discoidalmain body portions, said tongue member having an end thereof bent oversaid flanges of one of said discoidal main body portions and reinsertedbelow the main body portion of the other of said main body portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS274,044 Smith Mar. 13, 1883 308,368 McGill Nov. 25, 1884 437,548Anderson Sept. 30, 1890 687,351 Tully Nov. 26, 1901 1,184,202 OrendorlfMay 23, 1916 1,778,236 Trautrnan et al Oct. 14, 1930 2,017,173 Wollneret a1. Oct. 15, 1935 2,297,771 Johnson Oct. 6, 1942 2,529,497 InnacelliNov. 14, 1950 2,532,313 Innacelli Dec. 5, 1950 2,747,935 Szantay May 29,1956 3,023,472 Ranseen Mar. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 323,452 GreatBritain Jan. 2, 1930

1. SECURING MEANS FOR A RECEPTACLE HAVING A CLOSURE MEMBER FORMED OF APAIR OF LID SECTIONS HAVING FREE EDGES PIVOTAL INTO JUXTAPOSITION WHENMOVED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CLOSED POSITIONS, FASTENING MEANS FOR EACH LIDSECTION COMPRISING A PRONGED MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL BODY PORTION FROMONE SIDE OF WHICH LATERALLY PROJECTS A PAIR OF PRONGS, SAID PRONGS OFEACH OF SAID FASTENING MEANS EXTENDING, RESPECTIVELY, THROUGH EACH OFSAID LID SECTIONS, AND A TONGUE MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID LIDSECTIONS BETWEEN SAID PRONGS OF BOTH OF SAID FASTENING MEANS, SAIDTONGUE MEMBER BEING BENT OVER ONE OF SAID FASTENING MEANS AND REINSERTEDBELOW THE CENTRAL BODY PORTION OF THE OTHER OF SAID FASTENING MEANS.